Home Improvement!

Ever since we moved into this house in 2011, we've struggled with flooding every time there is a heavy rain. There has been an incomplete drainage ditch coming off the road and running along the left side of our compound. In recent years, the city widened the drain at the road, and now all the rain water from both directions comes into that hole. Then... it just created a flood that swept water, debris, trash (including broken glass) and layers of dirt into our side yard. Here are a few photos:  

After a storm, layer of dirt and debris on the patio (including broken bottle)

We tried adding sandbags, but they also got flooded

At the end of March, our landlord sent a work team to build a large, cement drainage ditch that would carry all the rain water from our street to the street below, instead of into our yard. Alongside the ditch, they built a brick wall between our compound and the neighbor's. A team of 10 young men did the work. Some of them were high school students available because schools are closed due to COVID-19, others are full-time masons. They worked hard for 5 weeks, 6 days a week, 8-10 hours a day. We kept them supplied with drinking water and snacks, set up a hand-washing station, talked to them about COVID-19, and kept the dogs inside, away from them. 

Drainage ditch on the left, wall starting on right

Our front yard, mid-construction

Out-building next to construction site, with hand-washing station

Sad dogs in confinement.

When the wall was finished, I baked them a cake and we took photos. The drainage problem is now solved, and we have a lovely wall, which keeps our dogs out of the neighbor’s yard. This has really impacted our daily life here for the better.